El Chaltén is located in the province of Santa Cruz, north of the Los Glaciares National Park, it was founded in 1985 and is considered the Argentine capital of trekking.
El Chaltén is
nestled in the valley of the Río de las Vueltas, at the base of the Mount Fitz Roy, called "Chaltén" by the Tehuelche Indians, which means "mountain that smokes", since its peak is generally covered by clouds and gives the impression of being an active volcano.
The town of El Chaltén has around 200 inhabitants and can be accessed very easily from El Calafate, it is 220 kilometers away. In fact, National Route 40 that connects both points is considered one of the most beautiful in the country due to the dazzling views of the Fitz Roy and Torre peaks, as well as the fauna and flora that surround it. Surely during the tour you will see guanacos and hares close to the route.
El Chaltén can be visited in a
day trip from El Calafate but you can also base there in its various accommodations (
hotels, hostels, cabins or campsites) to further explore the region. There are dozens of
trekking circuits and, also, it is possible to carry out activities such as
sport fishing, horseback riding and walks on ice. Most of the excursions and trekkings to the hills, lagoons and glaciers start from trails from the village. You don't have to be an expert in mountaineering to enjoy the circuits and activities that this destination offers.
If you wonder what to do in El Chaltén in this guide you will find all the information that I detail below:
Tour the town of El Chaltén
In this small town you can breathe a mountainous atmosphere, you will see people of all ages and especially lovers of hiking walking through its streets, most of them are on the way to prepare to continue towards the mountains.
The town of El Chaltén is very picturesque, it is worth visiting to see the typ ica constructions of low houses made of wood and painted in super bright colors. Most are accommodations or function as businesses focused on the traveler. The town is developed around its main economic resource, which is tourism.
Within El Chaltén you will find everything you need to supply yourself before heading to the different activities. There are small supermarkets, tourist information offices, mountain clothing rental stores , stalls with traditional crafts and restaurants (Maffia, Ahonikenk, Cúrcuma, La Oveja Negra) where you can delight yourself with a traditional Patagonian lamb or a delicious portion of chocolate cake (Black Forest). You will also see several breweries (Chaltén, Glaciares, Kettlern) that make their own craft beer in their premises, they are delicious and it is worth taking some of their varieties while enjoying beautiful views of the hills.
Another activity to do from the town of El Chaltén are the guided horseback rides that last 4 hours and can be booked at the tourist office located on Avenida San Martín. During the tour, you will be able to appreciate the typical landscape of the mountain range, the fauna and flora of the Patagonian steppe and you will enjoy impressive views of the Fitz Roy hill.
Several of the trekking trails begin from the town of El Chaltén that will take you to the most beautiful places in this destination such as the Torre lagoon, the Tres lagoon, Capri lagoon, Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, the Madsen house museum, the viewpoint of Los Cóndores and the Río de las Vueltas.
In El Chaltén you can
arrive by bus from the town of
El Calafate (215 km) south of the province of Santa Cross and arrive at the El Chaltén terminal. Buses leave from the El Calafate Bus Terminal (located downtown) and from the El Calafate International Airport. The service runs regularly from October to May from 7 am to 9 pm. The duration by bus is 3 hours. Another option is to go from Perito Moreno by RN 40, where you will be able to enjoy incredible landscapes, it is very well signposted and the route is all asphalt. It is around 663 kilometers (9 hours).
In the case of
rent a car, from El Calafate you have to take the RN N° 40 heading north, parallel to the Andes Mountains. The route has sections of gravel and is perfectly signposted with signs that mention the route Río Leona - El Chaltén. When you reach the RP23 intersection, you have to go towards the Cordillera, crossing the coast of Lake Viedma until you reach "the national capital of trekking," El Chaltén.
Trekking to Laguna Torre
It is one of the most emblematic hiking routes. Without a doubt, the most valued tour of El Chatén. A path of approximately 20 kilometers round trip, and 8 hours in duration that will take you to the foot of the Laguna and Cerro Torre. You will venture through peaks of bare rock and an impressive glacier that falls until it touches the grayish waters of the lagoon.
The trail "Laguna Torre" is located in the town of El Chaltén, is linear, difficult it goes down and is very well signposted. The unevenness of the route is 750 meters of ascent and descent.
It is one of the easiest ascents and it will allow you see an incredible panorama of this town, you can continue walking along the ridge to the Maestri viewpoint. A perfect natural balcony to observe the glacier up close and another perspective of the lagoon. In the latter case, you must add one more hour to the route.
You can also do this tour through the
private trekking Laguna Torre. During this excursion that takes place every day from October to April, you will be able to enjoy the paths that enter the Fitz Roy River valley and continue to follow the course of the river to its source. Until you reach Laguna Torre,
you will see the Margarita Waterfall, Cerro Solo, Cerro Torre and in the distance Mount Fitz Roy. The one-way trek lasts approximately 4 hours. Nbsp ;
Trekking on the Hielo Continental
The trekking on the Patagonian Continental Ice is one of the most demanding walks in El Chaltén and at the same time, one of the most amazing. It is suitable only for people in excellent physical condition and accompanied by specialized guides.
The Southern Patagonian Continental Ice is the largest ice surface in South America and can only be compared to Antarctica. Its size is equivalent to half of Switzerland. It is a sample of what the planet was like 18,000 years ago, at the height of the ice ages.
The total route is 90 kilometers leaving El Chaltén to go around the Fitz Roy and Torre hills and return to the town. Although it can be done in six days, ten or eleven are calculated because it can be delayed due to weather issues. Most of the time you walk and sleep on the surface of the ice. The season to do so is from December to February.
It begins with a walk through the forest, lasting about three hours, to the foot of the Marconi Glacier, where you sleep in a wild campsite. The second day, when you ascend to the Marconi Pass, a drop of 800 meters, is the most tiring, especially since each person carries their own backpack, which weighs around 15 kilos. Crampons should be used and, depending on glacier conditions, stringing may be necessary. It is between six and seven hours of walking, with a spectacular view of the ice interior and the mountain ranges that can be seen in the background.
He sleeps in a camp on the ice. Then two whole days of walking follow one another through almost flat terrain, always white, always ice and snow. It is the upper part of the Viedma Glacier. Thus, you travel about 35 kilometers until you reach the foot of some mountains. It is the Circus of the Altars. You sleep in special tents, on the snow, at the foot of the legendary west face of Cerro Torre. The next day, already leaving the continental ice, you reach the Laguna de los Esquíes, you have to use snowshoes and crampons.
During the last two days, you go up to Paso del Viento, at an altitude of 1,550 meters, with a spectacular view of Laguna Toro. You return through two glacial valleys that flow into incredible green meadows. The last glacier, the terminal tongue of the Tunnel Glacier, and the river of the same name, are crossed with a zip line. Already in the middle of the forest, the final camp is made and we return to El Chaltén through the Loma del Pldamientos Tumbado.
Walk through the lenga forests towards the Laguna de los Tres
It is one of the routes most chosen by tourists for the beauty of its landscapes. As you gain altitude it gets better and better, you cross rivers and lagoons with spectacular views until you reach the base of the great giant: Fitz Roy.
Access to the “Laguna de los Tres” trail starts from the town of El Chaltén, it is a linear path of moderate difficulty. It is about 25 kilometers round trip. It is approximately 9 hours of trekking with a difference of +1000 meters of ascent and descent.
Generally, from May to the end of October the Laguna de los Tres is frozen and you can see in its deep blue the reflections of the sky and the peaks that surround it.
One option that I recommend to get to know the two most important lagoons in El Chaltén is to do the
trekking Laguna de los 3 and Laguna Torre in 2 days. It is an incomparable guided experience! With a professional guide you will be able to learn much more about the history of the place, the flora, fauna, geology and glaciology.
In La Laguna Of the 3 you will know the most important points of this route such as the Laguna Capri (a huge mountain lagoon surrounded by lengas and ñires from where you can see Mount Fitz Roy). The guide will also take you to the Fitz Roy viewpoint , from where you will have an even broader view of the hill and its surroundings.
Also during the tour you will have views of the valley of the Rio Blanco , the Piedras Blancas glacier and its lagoon. Before returning, the guide will give you some food to fill up of energy while enjoying one of the best views of the area. The total to travel will be 24 km and it will take between 7 and 8 hours. The height to ascend will be 770 meters. On the second day you will go to the Laguna Torre where you will be able to observe the imposing view of the Torre, Standhart, Adelas, Grande and Solo hills. You will also come across the Fitz Roy River and the viewpoint Maestri, from where you will have the most complete view of the Grande Glacier. The total to travel to Laguna Torre is 20 kilometers (6 to 7 hs.) and the total to ascend is 250 meters.
Know the Lago del Desierto and navigate for its waters
About 25 kilometers from the town of El Chaltén is the Lago del Desierto. This lake is part of a provincial reserve dedicated to protecting the flora and fauna of the region.
To Lake Del Desierto it is recommended to go by car, you have to take it from the town the Provincial Route N° 23 in north direction bordering the river of the Vueltas, there are signs that perfectly indicate the way. During the trip you will be able to observe different melt rivers that feed Lake Del Desierto, see in the distance the emblematic Fitz Roy and the surrounding hills. As the road gets closer to the lake, the native forest thickens with gigantic lengas and ñires trees.
Upon arrival there is a parking area, where you can leave the car and walk about 300 meters along a signposted path to the viewpoint, where you will be able to appreciate the lake from south to north.
From At the southern head of the lake it is possible to do a trekking along the Laguna Huemul trail, it is short but demanding, of just under an hour, going up through a lenga forest to the Huemul lagoon, where the glacier of the same drains and melts into icebergs name.
Another very interesting option to get to know the Huemul Glacier is
hire the Lago del Desierto navigation, where passengers are transferred from the town of El Chaltén to the Punta Sur dock (in the Provincial Reserve Laguna del Desierto), where they embark for 45 minutes to observe the amazing landscapes that surround this lake and spot the Glacier.
For those looking for a The most complete tour is the
navigation Lago del Desert with trekking, where in addition to navigating about 30 minutes watching the Huemul and Crestón glaciers, you disembark in the Vespignani Glacier sector, which is located in the middle of the lake.
Once there, a guided trekking through the Vespignani Glacier Reserve begins, it takes around 45 minutes at a slow pace to overcome 150 meters of unevenness and access the foot of the Vespignani glacier, plus an incredible view of the north face of Mount Fitz Roy. Nbsp ;
If you are interested in staying for the day at Lago del Desierto, next to the parking there is the
private camping “Lago del Desierto”. It has grills, tables, bathrooms and a grocery store. The campsite has access to the lagoon and the Huemul Glacier.
Hiking towards the Loma de las Pizarras
La
Loma de las Pizarras is a
privileged point to observe the
Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy. This panoramic point is reached through a
trekking of 17 kilometers. It is classified as of medium difficulty, it is not necessary to have experience in ascents but you do need good physical condition and appropriate equipment. The most recommended is to do it through a
excursion.
This path is a fascinating experience that will take you approximately between 8 to 9 hours of trekking uphill (1700 meters unevenness).
The tour begins at the Laguna Torre path, 2 kilometers from El Chaltén town, this path will introduce you to the Fitz Roy River valley that after 15 minutes walking it will give you access to the first viewpoint located in a river gorge, offering you some panoramic views of Cerros Solo, Adela cordon, Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy.
When you reach the intersection of trails, you have to deviate taking the path to the beautiful Mother and Daughter Lagoons, from here the ascent begins in the middle of an imposing forest of lengas that little by little began It starts to get steeper and steeper until it takes you to the “Loma”.
During the tour you will cross a stony area and depending on the time of year you can cross areas snowfalls that with the help of crampons or snowshoes will allow you reach the La Loma de Las Pizarras on the southern edge.
When you arrive at the summit at 1700 masl you will enjoy from one of the most impressive views of Cerro Fitz Roy and its needles, to Lake Viedma, located in the distance on the Patagonian Steppe.
The Loma de las Pizarras trek is recommended during spring-summer (October-March) to fully enjoy the fauna and flora of the area by easy access roads.
Ascent and hike to Cerro Vespignani
To the north of the town of El Chalten and above Lake Del Desierto is this particular mountain with a height m maximum of 2146 meters. The approximate duration of the hike up to its summit is 7 to 8 hours with a total elevation gain of 1500 meters . The ideal time to do it is from October to March.
You can get to Mount Vespignani
renting a car or the most recommended hiring a
Ascension excursion to Cerro Vespigniani. In the case of going by car you must go along Provincial Route No. 23 to the Lago del Desierto parking lot 38 kilometers from El Chaltén and from the parking lot walk one hour along the marked path to Laguna Huemul, and then advance through the moraine until reaching the homonymous glacier located at 1700 meters above sea level, here you will have an excellent view of the north face of Mount Fitz Roy and the Lago del Desierto from above.
To continue the ascent, you may need crampons or snowshoes (they are included in the excursion), since it is an area that Depending on its weather conditions, it may be covered with snow.
During the last section you will cross several snow bridges, you will walk along the Huemul Glacier, avoiding cracks and seracs (famous fractures of the glacier that occur due to the tension of the terrain due to its marked slopes) and after 4 hours of a demanding ascent you will reach the summit, where all that effort will be rewarded with incredible panoramic view.
Hike to the Laguna Capri
This beautiful hike will leads to a viewpoint over a blue-water lagoon surrounded by native forest which can be reached in less than 3 hours (8 kilometers round trip) from the town of El Chaltén. In this lagoon you will also be able to appreciate a fantastic view of the Fitz Roy massif.
It is one of the busiest trails and, as its degree of difficulty is less , everyone comes to visit this paradise. You have to walk to the end of San Martín Avenue (where the town ends) and there take the path that marks a sign "Laguna Capri"
The road has a small degree of difficulty during the first half hour of walking, as there is a lot of climbing to do. During the tour you will see mountains on one side and on the other side, the blue river of Las Vueltas.
After walking a long time, the road begins to become narrower and to enter the forest, where you will be able to appreciate all kinds of species, among which the lengas stand out.
At times, the clearings vegetation allow you to see different mountains and peaks, as well as some small streams and water bodies that are crossed by small bridges.
During the walk there are signs that They are making mention of the lagoon and its viewpoint, ideal to appreciate its calm and blue waters from above. I recommend that you take your time to appreciate the different birds that inhabit the area, it is very common to see red-crested woodpeckers in the trees.
En In the case of not having experience in mountain roads,
I recommend you travel accompanied by a professional guide through the
excursion trekking Laguna Capri. The guide will pick you up at the hotel door and will take you on a march according to the capacity of each one . It is ideal to learn more about the history and geography of the area.
Visit the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall
A few minutes from El Chaltén is the Chorrillo del Salto, a natural waterfall that you can walk from town. It is located 4 kilometers and it is an ideal place for those who do not want to walk long distances or take very difficult trails.
The path starts in the town, you will find a sign that mentions the path "Chorrillo del Salto", this is introduced between trees and typical plants of the area, on both sides of the path you will find all kinds of flowers wild. The route takes two hours round trip.
Upon reaching the waterfall, you will find a beautiful greenish-blue lagoon, where visitors can swim or simply lie down on its shores and rest.
Climbing on boulders
Surrounded by large rocky walls, known as boulders, El Chaltén receives every year both beginner and experienced climbers who decide to defy gravity to ascend walls of different heights.
In the
climbing on boulders you will learn about the different concepts and practices of sport climbing. According to the experience of each one, they will
climb walls of various difficulties putting into practice the most common techniques of this mountain sport.
The main boulderers are located in the vicinity of the town, such as the Paredón de los Cóndores 150 meters high that crosses the river on the east side of El Chaltén. The Vescho Wall , popular for being a climbing school for the locals, thanks to its short and steep sections protected from the wind or the Squid Wall that It has about 30 climbing routes of different difficulties. Also within a 15-minute walk you can explore more challenging walls such as La Platea or the Madsen Forest . The climb is along the path to the Laguna de los Tres and has many boulderers recognized and renowned by adventurers, there is the Wall of the Goblins, the rock of the Nerca, the rock of the Dead Cow among many more.
The excursions depart from Avenida San Martín 56, have a duration of 5 hours and it has expert guides who provide you with all the necessary equipment, movement techniques, types of anchors, equipment handling, knot creation and safety techniques. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the mountain!
Visit the Madsen House Museum
This small museum is a journey through time, where you will be able to see the house of the Danish pioneer who arrived in 1905 and built the first house in El Chaltén.
The route from the town to this house-museum is 5 kilometers round trip (2h30), and It is done walking on a terrain without slopes.
Andreas Madsen was a Dane who came to El Chaltén to work with the expert Pascasio Moreno and built the first house. When you get to it, you will be able to know its history, the challenges it had to go through with its family and what daily life was like in the ranch more than a century ago.
The location of the house is across the river From Las Vueltas in front of the current town of El Chaltén, during the tour you will have a privileged view of Cerro Chaltén.
To go from the town you must go to the “Río De las Vueltas” path until you cross a bridge that will take you along the east bank of the river, skirting the De los Cóndores cordon. In just over 20 minutes you will arrive at the house, where you will see the original construction that is still intact: walls made with ax-cut lenga trunk, the wall cladding with wooden drawers, burlap cloth and newspapers of the time that they used as insulation. You will also appreciate different artifacts, tools and original furniture of the family.
On the walls are hung various vintage photographs, in black and white that show details of the life of these pioneers of deep Patagonia at the beginning of the last century.
Trekking and climbing in the Glaciar Cagliero
The
Cagliero Glacier for years remained alive thanks to its orientation and the accumulation of
snow from the Neumayer, Cagliero and Loma del Diablo Hills. It is located near the Los Huemules Reserve, it can be reached through the
ice trekking to the Cagliero Glacier or
renting a car and going to the Los Huemules Reserve, located 16 kilometers from the town.
Once in the private reserve, you can start the trekking (10 hours round trip) along a little-traveled "Laguna del Diablo" trail surrounded by fascinating Lengas forests. The terrain is simple but stony until you reach the Laguna del Diablo located at 770 meters above sea level, from this point you will be able to enjoy the unusual view of the north wall of Mount Fitz Roy and the Cagliero refuge.
After a two-hour journey and outside the Los Huemules Reserve grounds, you will find the Via Ferrata (they are rock sectors with little difficulty that were previously prepared with artificial steps and steel cables). In this sector it is advisable to arrive with guides, who will put the harness on you and explain how to use the equipment to move autonomously and safely.
The journey On the Via Ferrata it is very entertaining and as you skirt the lagoon, it will allow you to gain altitude and get fantastic views of the snow-capped mountains. After an hour and a half of travel you will reach the Cagliero Glacier viewpoint (950 masl) from that point you can see the accumulation of snow that falls on the glacier from the Neumayer Hills, Cagliero and Loma del Diablo.
From the viewpoint you can take a short walk that takes you to the front of the Glacier and to the “Vivac Cagliero” , a small base armed with domes where you can take a break for lunch, rest or rent equipment to walk on the glacier.
En In the case of going on an excursion, the technical equipment is included and an average stay of 3 hours is made on the Cagliero Glacier , depending on the weather conditions and the physical level of the group.
The path to the glacier is of a low level of demand. The ideal season for this tour is from October to April. Other tours that can be combined with this excursion is the
ice trekking to the Cagliero Glacier with kayak in the Río de las Vueltas, is an excellent two-day option for those who want to add more fun. Kayaking down the Río de las Vueltas is unique, you will have unparalleled views of the Fitz Roy massif and the lenga forest that accompanies the 10-kilometer journey. While on the second day they will venture through the glacier.
Another very interesting alternative is to do the
trekking to Glaciar Cagliero with overnight. After hiking trails, climbing rocks and walking on the ice, you will live the unique experience of sleeping next to a Glacier in the Vivac Cagliero refuge, where you will be able to enjoy a hot drink while observing this incredible mass of ice. At night a dinner is offered, and then go to rest in a Bivouac Dome, which is equipped with 6 beds. In the morning, after breakfast, we will start back.
Rafting in the Rio de las Vueltas
Inside the North end of Los Glaciares National Park, you can experience the adrenaline of rowing through the different rapids that the Río de las Vueltas presents. Currently, this river is categorized in level III plus rafting.
The first zone consists of four kilometers of calm and meandering waters with the views of the Fitz Roy behind . Ideal area to make contact with the raft, the river and practice the paddling techniques necessary for what is coming. The second part advances on the area of the canyon. After the initial rapid, you will find a succession of fun and exciting rapids for 8 kilometers.
The speed of the river makes the raft beat; ups and downs in the purest waters. For the end, a last descent with an area of 2 kilometers of calm water. From moving waters to a calm end, a way to get to know Patagonia with all possible rhythms
During this fun activity you will be able to explore the mountain river and its waterfalls accompanied by professional guides. The
rafting El Chaltén is a half-day excursion (paddling duration 2 hours), the season to do it is April-April and the difficulty is low. The excursion begins from El Chaltén with transfer to the entrance area to the river, where the talk about technique and safety of the rafting activity is given.
Go up to the Mirador de los Condores
This viewpoint is frequently flown by condors with a panoramic view of the town, the hills and the Lake Viedma.
To get to the viewpoint you can walk from the town of El Chaltén by the access bridge over the Fitz Roy river and continue to the head of the trail that starts on the grounds of the National Park Visitors Center. Passing a small gate, a sign will show you the way to the left, and a few steps away another information sign will show you a sketch of the path. From here it will be another half hour until you reach the Los Cóndores viewpoint (total 1 hour). This path is relatively new, it was opened in 2004. It is very well signposted and the route has several informative signs and an incredible landscape around it.
How Its name indicates it, the viewpoint is located in a strategic point for the eventual observation of condors in their frequent gliding path to and from the Fitz Roy river valley. It is also an excellent alternative to appreciate the imposing granite peaks and glaciers that dominate the horizon.
Contemplating the sunset from this viewpoint is something that many do not want to miss.
Near the Mirador de los Cóndores , there is the Las Aguilas , the trail begins in the signposted fork about ten minutes before reaching the Los Cóndores viewpoint.
This short path has a gentle slope, which as it goes on discovering the large lake Viedma on the horizon. The viewpoint is a natural balcony with a panoramic view over the steppe and Viedma lake to the south, the Huemul hill to the west and the Pyramid hill to the east.